I guess he's still not deemed fit enough to start, and Dortmund don't think he's the sort of player to sub in right now when they're holding on to a lead.
I still don’t get the “not fit enough to start” narrative. He started several games for Dortmund before the World Cup. He hasn’t been injured since the World Cup. How is he less fit now than he was two months ago?
It's possible he wasn't really ready back then either and they realized afterward they pushed him a little harder than they should have. Or he's had a minor undisclosed setback since then. I don't know, but like others I am mostly just trying to figure out how a guy can keep scoring game winning goals off the bench (for a team that otherwise looked pretty poor without him) and still not see any more minutes, and that is the best explanation I can come up with -- partly supported by the manager's recent quotes about him.
The manager said he wasn’t 100% after the last game. He didn’t need to use him so he didn’t. I feel pretty confident that Gio is considered a precious asset there, one on whom they will be relying heavily on the future if he stays fit.
Yeah... I think Gio would have been the 1st sub off the bench if they were down a goal or perhaps if level. But they were comfortably up by two goals and I think they are going to continue to use him with kids gloves. We need to get used to this because I don't think we are going to see him start for the foreseeable future. I recall when CP and Weah came back from their severe hammy injuries that it took them nearly a year to reach full speed even after being on the pitch. I think Gio is at 75% right now and they want to keep the work load down w/ an eye towards next season. For this season they are going to use him when they need a goal in the final 30 minutes.
Dortmund knew they were in for a fight so the line-up was full of guys who work hard 2-ways. Even with that, Leverkusen threatened throughout the match. I think the only way Reyna got in this game was if Dortmund was trailing.
Things going great for BVB right now. Perfect tactics. Clean sheet. They got Marco a jog. Pipe dream is Jude, Gio, Terzic and their other young talent staying there for quite some time. Unlikely, but a guy can dream.
He was forced to do backhand passing on the sideline by 3G, so his back is stiffen up. As Steffens did too.
I don’t think we need continual handwringing when he doesn’t play and act like Dortmund and USMNT similar talent levels or situations or dynamics. Let’s all moooove on. not surprised he didn’t get into this game given how it went tactically plus Reus being back. It’s going to be tough for him to get back to being a starter since it seems like they’re preferring the directness on the wings of adeyemi, malen and gittens plus competition in central areas with Brandt and Reus.
Do Dortmund fans want Terzic there long term? I've really only heard opinions that do not go in that direction.
Things are going great for Dortmund right now but I am not 100% sure that's on tactics alone. BVB were leading 3 times vs Augsburg (sitting just above the relegation zone) only to get equalized 3 times. BVB's match vs Mainz was no walk in the park either despite the late win thanks to Reyna...Mainz are hovering around 11th. Vs. Leverkusen, Kobel had an amazing match but don't be fooled by the score. Leverkusen were unlucky not to score, not once, but several times. Most people know Terzic is not the long term answer and hope this ends by the end of the season. CL matches coming up will certainly show a demonstration of where we are as a club and though I hope Terzic doesn't get outcoached, I think he may, and though talent and spirit may keep the score even, eventually it won't be enough. That said, we play Chelsea, who are having their own struggles so the indicator may be off.
Yeah, it was a great result for them against Leverkusen, but no small part of that was because Leverkusen spurned chance after chance. The scoreline was pretty flattering to Dortmund considering how the game actually played out.
I thought Rose did a solid job given the injuries to Haaland and Reyna. I don’t think he got a fair shake.
I have nothing against Rose. He may or may not be a good coach. The point is most people don’t know. I like Terzic, most people can like who they want…doesn’t mean they know anything.
I think they are ramping him back up to game shape slowly but he'll get regular starts when he's fit and his work rate is back. Reyna is Dortmund's next big meal ticket after Bellingham leaves this summer. Brandt has hit his ceiling, he'll probably stay at Dortmund but if/when he leaves it will be to a worse team. He has looked solid recently though. Malen is almost a bust at this point. He has no league goals this year. He didn't impress me at all last year. Adeyami looks alright but has 1 goal and one assist in 14 matches this year ( that was his first Bundesliga goal ever this past week). GIttens scored a nice goal two weeks ago but is a turnover machine that dribbles into trouble constantly. After Reus, Bellingham and a #9 any other attacking spot should go to Reyna when he is actually fit and healthy. That is a long way of saying it's health/fitness that is keeping Reyna from starting and not the competition. I'm hoping he and Reus can each share a half soon as they both work up to full fitness.
That’s all totally fair and likely accurate. Just can’t predict how a gittens and adeyemi continue to mature and improve plus Reus if a locked in starter takes up a spot.
I agree, seems like Brandt has a new lease on life lately. I've been very critical of his play in the past but he's actually looked pretty good these last few games. Last year he was almost an afterthought and BVB seemed to be working hard to try and unload him over the summer. For the time being at least, he now appears to have a starting spot and has been one of their better performers in this little stretch.
Dortmund fans are a lot more patient with their coaches than other clubs. They know they're not winning the league, so a Top 4 finish is all they need to be ok with their fate.